Finance bureaucrat resigns amid sexual harassment allegation

Finance Ministry Administrative Vice Minister Fukuda Jun’ichi on April 18 announced his resignation amid a storm of public criticism regarding his alleged sexual harassment of female journalists.

Later on the same day, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira said to the press, “It is a matter of course that Fukuda should resign, But, that will not put an end to the scandal. We demand the full revelation of facts.”

Noting that Fukuda insists that the news report is not true, Koike pointed out, “With the resignation, Fukuda effectively admitted to the facts of the report.” Koike stated that Fukuda has the responsibility to tell the truth and it is unacceptable to draw a curtain over the allegation.”

Koike stressed that Finance Minister Aso Taro should be directly held responsible for appointing Fukuda and failing to supervise him. He also said that Aso should be blamed for defending Fukuda from the sexual harassment allegation and that Aso should resign.

Koike criticized the Finance Ministry for urging female reporters who were sexually harassed by Fukuda to make themselves publicly known, in addition to the Prime Minister’s Office which allowed the ministry to make this demand.